The Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Field Office is seeking public input to help guide its Resource Management Plan Revision for 668,000 acres of BLM lands along Colorado’s Front Range. The revision will combine the 1996 Royal Gorge Resource Management Plan and the 1986 Northeast Resource Management Plan, to create the new Eastern Colorado Resource Management Plan. The revision will also include a Master Leasing Plan for South Park.
“It’s very important to hear from the public before we begin drafting the plan revision,” said BLM Royal Gorge Field Manager Keith Berger. “This scoping period gives the public a great opportunity to become involved early in the process. We want to address public concerns in the revision from the outset, and we want to ensure we have the most complete information.”
The BLM will accept public scoping comments through July 31, 2015. The scoping period gives the public the opportunity to identify issues to be addressed in the plan revision. The BLM will closely consider public comments in drafting a range of management alternatives for the planning area.
The BLM has scheduled seven public scoping meetings across Colorado this month including meetings in Cañon City and Salida. The public is encouraged to stop by one of the open house meetings anytime between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to talk to BLM specialists, learn more about the revision and provide comments. An informal presentation will be given at 6:30 p.m. each night. Open house meetings in the region include will be held in:
• June 23 – Salida, Salida High School, 26 Jones Ave
• June 24 – Fairplay, Fairplay Community Center, 880 Bogue St (fairgrounds)
• June 29 – Cañon City, The Abbey, Benedict Rm, 2951 E Highway 50
Attendance at these open houses is not required to submit scoping comments to the BLM. For further information about this plan revision and how to provide scoping comments, visit http://on.doi.gov/1HVULcA, or contact John Smeins, RMP Project Manager, at (719) 269-8581.
Scoping comments may be mailed to BLM ECRMP, 3028 E. Main Street, Cañon City, CO 81212; faxed to 719-269-8599; or e-mailed to ECRMP.Comments@blm.gov. Scoping comments will be most helpful if they are specific and received by BLM before July 31, 2015.